Sonntag, 28. Februar 2010

Just got the message: From Monday to Friday Lloyd and Victoria will not be on public display as the zoo thinks it is time for some spring preparations: The polar bear pool and the enclosures will be cleaned from scratch, usually done once a year...Not a big deal, you might think, but in fact 1.2 million liter water have to be exchanged, a task demanding lots of logistics...

Dawn Brancheau, 40, animal trainer, died during a performance at Seaworld Orlando in Florida last Wednesday on 24 February. Tilikum, the orca she had been working with, had pulled her by her pony tail into the water where she drowned. This is Tillikum..., captured 1983 in Iceland, and the only breeding male at Seaworld Orlando. The 30 years old orca will not be put down but handled differently now. He is at 12 tons the world's biggest captive orca and as he was already involved in a previous accident in which a trainer was killed, he was not trained to do water work, just splashes and jumps.Dawn Brancheau had been working with him for 16 years. A similar accident happened already on Christmas 2009 in the Spanish Seaworld Park Loro Parque in Tenerife . Alexis Martinez, 29, died during a training session with Keto, a 14 year old orca. An unexpected move by Keto made Alexis Martinez fall into the water where he died by asphyxia caused by compression of the chest. Here you can find a video which was posted "in Loving Memory of Alexis Martínez ', showing him and orca whales at work...

With this posting I want to express my sympathy to the families, friends and collegues, it is a tragedy when a dedicated animal trainer dies while working with the animals she/he cared for.

This posting is not meant to discuss orcas in captivity or training animals for shows, there are certainly other places to do so.

Sources & photo credits: Tilikum, more infos to orcas working at Seaworld parks on Orca Spirit, more photos here, article here and here (about he first show yesterday after the accident)

This is little Moon bear Tiger, an abandoned newborn in the Rescue Center Tam Do located in Vietnam, run by Animal Asia. Found at the beginning of the new moon year, it was named Tiger. One of the rescued females had given birth unnoticed and abandoned the little one, found with only one ear. As in bear farms no mating is possible, it is also a hint that the female was hunted recently in the wild...

Please support the work of Animal Asia, a charity based in Hongkong dedicated to ending cruelty and restoring respect for all animals in Asia. It is thanks to their work during the last 12 years and her tiredles founder Jill Robinson, that the world has started to take notice about the bear bile farms, especially of the pain of the Moon bears ( Asiatic Black bear).

"In countries across Asia, thousands of bears live a life of torture on bear farms, so that their bile can be extracted and used in traditional medicine to cure ailments ranging from headaches to haemorrhoids. Bears are confined in cages which vary from agonisingly tiny "crush" cages to larger pens, all of which cause terrible physical and mental suffering. "

Bärenvater Finn darf aber seine Bärin und den Nachwuchs nicht beschnuppern. Finn wäre eine Gefahr für die Kleinen. Darum werden seine Frühlingsgefühle gebremst. Am Mittwoch verstärkten Mitarbeiter des Tierparks den Boden beim Gitter mit Beton, wie Projektleiter Jürg Hadorn bestätigte. Das ist nötig, obschon der Aarehang bereits mit zahlreichen Spundwänden verbaut ist.Finns Frühlingsgefühle sind einfach zu stark."Another tunnel in Bern, brown bear Finn, yes, the one who was shot in November after a young man had entered his enclosure, was seen too very busy recently digging a tunnel...A tunnel with consequences as you can see in the video of the article, as it had grown so big that it had to be filled with concrete in order to keep him still away from Björk (right), his partner, who just emerged from hibernation having given birth to two little cubs...Obviously Finn was very curious to see her again after that long separation , probably fed up of being alone... Very understandable !!!

Analysing our material, authentic and provided by locals who were more than alarmed, suggests but one explanation, there is an international operating ring out there, even using the work force of unprotected children. Here we see Molly, a young pup, not yet 5 months old when these photos were taken!

- Please find here The Tunnel Project of Miss Molly on YouTube; you can watch it also raw and unprocessed in mini sequences , Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 ...(a tribute to everyone having a slow connection...)

Sonntag, 21. Februar 2010

Baubären auf dem Weg zur Arbeit in Karlsruhe...-Construction bears on their way to work in Karlsruhe-Inspektion der Baustelle...-Inspection of the construction site....Das sieht nach Überstunden aus...-It looks as if some overtime will be necessary...Wie immer sind es die Mädels, die am härtesten ackern...-As usual the ladies are doing the hard work...Noch nicht genug...meint Aufseher Vitus-Not enough...that is what supervisor Vitus thinks... Weitergraben...-More digging...Ein Tunnel, aber wohin führt er...?The question is what will be on the other side of the tunnel ..?

These exclusive photos were reported in connection with a highly interesting construction scandal in Karlsruhe, but Knut's outpost will soon be able to present material prooving that there is a dimension which goes much further than Karlsruhe...

The condoms are enclosed in colorful packaging bearing images of endangered species like polar bears, jaguars and the Puerto Rico rock frog. The images are accompanied by slogans like “Wrap with care, save the polar bear,” and “Cover your tweedle, save the burying beetle.”

More than 3,000 volunteers have come forward to distribute the 100,000 condoms in bars, supermarkets, schools, concerts and in other public places, according to Kierán Suckling, the executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, the nonprofit group that spearheaded the project.

“It’s a way to make people laugh, shock people a little bit and get them talking,” he said.

Highways, housing developments, depleted water resources and rising greenhouse gas emissions are a few ways that human population growth affects endangered species, Mr. Suckling said. But the primary goal of the project is to show other environmental groups that talking about overpopulation ought not be taboo, he said.

“Overpopulation is the driving force behind virtually all environmental problems — air pollution, water pollution, the extinction crisis, global warming, yet it is rarely ever addressed by conservation groups,” he said. “They are really afraid of touching the issue and appearing antihuman.”

Discussions of the impact of population growth on the environment, however, do tend to stir passions. A study by a group of statisticians from Oregon State University, for example, which Green Inc. reported on last August, examined the carbon dioxide emissions associated with having a child.

“In discussions about climate change, we tend to focus on the carbon emissions of an individual over his or her lifetime,” Paul Murtaugh, a professor of statistics at Oregon State, said in a statement accompanying the study’s release. “Those are important issues, and it’s essential that they should be considered. But an added challenge facing us is continuing population growth and increasing global consumption of resources.”

Hundreds of Green Inc. readers responded to the item — many with a roll of the eyes. “So to save the world, we need to destroy our species,” wrote one reader, calling himself Dennis from the Bronx. “Great theory.”

The condom project, which began on Valentines Day, has been drawing similarly mixed reactions. “This is sick,” wrote one commenter at the environment blog of The Orange County Register. “Not that condoms are bad. But the reasoning behind this is disturbing and seems driven by sociopaths.”

Still, in an unscientific poll at that site — which asks “Should environmental activists distribute free endangered-species condoms in Orange County?” — more than 30 of the 50 or so respondents so far have answered “yes.”

The Center for Biological Diversity said it quickly ran out of the 100,000 condoms it initially ordered, and that an order for 500,000 more had been placed. Mr. Suckling says he does not plan to sell the condoms, despite their apparent popularity.

“The value of getting these out there means more to us,” he said.

The group also started a Web site that delves into how human population growth has affected endangered species.

The human population stands at 6.8 billion and is projected to reach at least 9 billion by 2050. “Without universal access to free birth control and engaging public education about the serious consequences of overpopulation, the global population could reach 15 billion by mid-century,” said Serraglio. “The Earth simply can’t sustain that many people and provide a high-quality life for all species, including humans.”

You want to win a life time's supply of condoms, click here , unfortunately you have to be American or resident of the District of Columbia, I couldn't fill in the forms! Note, life time supply has been estimated at 2,000...))

Whether they were just playing together or engaged in some serious flirting, Zero and Aurora were at the center of attention Friday.

Zero — all 1,150 pounds of him — is the latest addition to the Seneca Park Zoo, having recently arrived from the Milwaukee County Zoo.He made his Rochester debut at a news conference unveiling him to the public.

Aurora, who had been the only polar bear here until Zero's arrival, seemed delighted to have a new companion as they frolicked together in the zoo's Rocky Coasts exhibition area.

"Cubs are certainly the long-term goal of this couple," said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks at a news conference at the zoo.

She went on to say: "Is there any better time of the year to announce a great relationship than Valentine's Day?"

Zero was recommended for the Seneca Park Zoo by the Polar Bear Species Survival Plan, a conservation breeding program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

In Milwaukee, Zero and his mate had not been able to produce offspring, but the hope is that Zero will find fatherhood here.

After the introductory comments were made at Friday's news conference, the 20-year-old Zero entered the exhibition area and chased Aurora before they fell in the water together.

Aurora, who is about the same age as Zero but half his weight, has been without a mate since August 2008, when Yukon the polar bear died.

But Aurora made it clear that she was not bullied and that she'd get her fair share of some fish given to the couple in a block of ice.

"He'd get close to it and she'd charge at him," said Veronica Siaca, 21 of Rochester.

Claiming that Aurora was playing hard to get, Siaca added: "He has not quite figured out how to approach her."

Photo credits: Isle (1), Frans (2), ChristinaM (3,9), SimoneF (4, 5), Petra W (6,7), MarionK (8) -All photos found via Knutitis...There are many more beautiful photos taken under the freezing conditions of this winter, thanks to all photographers who didn't mind ice & snow just to visit the young couple...!

Video credits: ChristinaM/12.02.2010 - more videos of the last days can be found there...

We remember, on October 13 last year Ohoto, long-time- disappeared daughter of Mercedes, gave birth to a tiny cub, making Mercedes a grand-ma. Ohoto is said to have given birth about 9 times, due to a friend's statement from Japan, not a single cub before survived.

The video shows a bit how different the view on polar bears is in Japan, especially when born in an adventure park. Where the cub is raised, the atmosphere seems rather sterile, highlighted even by the white protective clothes of the zoo keeper, the harnass, the ferris wheel in the background... - by the way, the cub was already in November on public display behind glass. Concerning the outdoor impressions, they seem familiar too when thinking of Taotao from China. In contrast, how "care-free and natural" seemed Knut with Thomas Dörflein during their early-morning-walks or when playing during the "Knut-shows"...

Donnerstag, 4. Februar 2010

No news so far about Zero, just that he arrived already on 21 January at Seneca Park in Rochester. While waiting for first reports on how he is adjusting to his new environment and Aurora, the widow, here some reflections of Zero while contemplating in the moat after his fall in 2008, made available by Jim Stingl who was so kind to send me Zero's verse....

"And now a word from Zero, who in addition to being a polar bear inMilwaukee is evidently a bad poet:

Hey everybody, what's happening, yo 'sup, I've fallen and in this case Ican get back up.

I just don't want to, if you really must know, maybe I'll stay hereuntil the first snow.

You've probably read that I'm down in the moat, send ACORN* over so I'mable to vote.

It happened this week as I played with my toys, I'm suing the zoo andall it employs.

Surviving the fall should go on a plaque, I'm bigger than Ringo and Istill write back.

It wasn't quite graceful, I hit with a splat, do you think this whitefur makes me look fat?

Life in a moat is sometimes a hassle, especially when it doesn't evencome with a castle.

You're really not supposed to fall in a gorge, unless of course you'reCurious George.

For me this canyon is rather cathartic, but still I'd rather be up inthe Arctic.

Walking on sea ice before it's all melted, instead with peanuts I'mconstantly pelted.

I'd sooner be living in this tiny box, than out there with you and yourtail-spinning stocks.

If I could escape I'd eat you, you know, up here on Blue Mound, that'show we roll.

This moat is my home now come shine or come rain, unless y'all offer aride on the train.That's my demand, you bet I'm emphatic, either that or a toy from thecool Mold-A-Matic*.

I wound up down here in the blink of an eye, oh, and your cousins, thebonobos, said to say "Hi."

*Notes:-Zero's fall, and in consequence his verse, happened in October 2008, in the heat of the up-coming US elections. In the comments I will copy an article Jim sent to me which explains the role of ARCON, just for all who are not familiar with it...

-Mold-A-Matic (better known as Mold-A-Rama) has machines at various locations at Milwaukee Zoo. You put in a little money and, while you watch, the machine molds a bear or elephant or other animal out of plastic, and it's yours to keep. Kids love it. More about them and how they work here and here...This is a molded polar bear from a machine in St.Louis Zoo. I didn't find one from Milwaukee Zoo.

Who wants to lay hands on the original K-files, all coming in the typical outpost outfit pdf and usually including photos found within the Aussendienstnetz, just click on the file covers, download starts after filling in the 3 letter code.Attention: please click the FREE download option and not Premium as this will cost you then. We apologize for any inconvenience, unfortuantely we can't stop the ads!